Theatrical scenic arch.



Np. `7|(i,490. Patented 080.23, 1902.

E. L. sNAnEn. THEATRICAL SCENIC ARCH.

(Application med' ont. 15, 1902.)

(No Model.)

I 71, U'e 71,

mc :wams Enns co, PHomLlTn., WASHINGTON, D` c.

UNrrtn @rares Partnr DFrIcE.

EDWARD L. SNADER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

THEATRICAL SCENIC ARCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 716,490, dated December23, 1902.

Application filed October l5, 1902- Serial No. 127,348. (No model.)

T0 al?, whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. SNADER, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of New York, in the county and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Theatrical Scenic Archesfor Producing Scenic Eects in Theatrical Performances, of which thefollowing is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in theatrical scenery andmechanical dramatic eects; and the object of myimprovementis to providea scenic arch which can be readily set up and which upon a given cue inthe progress of a theatrical performance will collapse and fall intopieces upon the stage, thus producing the dramatic effect of a disasterbrought about by the sudden falling of an arch of masonry. I attain thisobject by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, whichshows the arch A as it exists when set up ready for use on the stage,resting on the piers E E. The arch is composed, in the usual manner of abuilding-arch, of wedge-shaped arch-stones d2 ct, ct d2, restingunfastened (except by the cord hereinafter mentioned) one againstanother. It must, however, be so formed as to be in a high degreeunstable by reason of the outthrust. The arch-stones are made of wood,papiermch or other light material shaped and painted to representmasonry.

B is a cord passing freely around the arch and binding it securelytogether, the ends of the cord being fastened at some convenient pointd. It is necessary that the cord should pass over the extrados or uppersurface of the arch, pressing every arch stone under or through the endstones a2 a2 and through a ring or channel D in the keystone at thecrown of the arch, except that instead of passing under or through bothof the end stones and being fastened at d the cord may, if desired, haveits ends fastened upon opposite sides of one only of the end stones, asat c and d. The cord should be of small size and so colored as not to beapparent to the audience.

The arch may be greatly varied in size and shape and may be used torepresent in part a house, church, temple, bridge, or other structure,and several arches may be used at the same time.

Vhen the cord is unted or severed at d or any convenient point, t-hearch, by reason of its outthrust, will instantly collapse and fall intopieces. This loosening of the cord may be accomplished upon a cue by astage-hand who is located in the wings of the theater or elsewhere outof sight of the audience.

The arch is best put together for use lying at onits side on the stage.The cord is then bound around it in the manner already described. Forconvenience of application and to prevent accidental shifting it is wellto pass the cord through grooves or channels in the end stones, as b andb', and also through a ring orgroove in the keystone at C. When thusbound together, the arch may lifted into its final postion upon thepiers E E in any convenient manner, preferably in the way that is usualin theaters-that is, by a rope let down from the liies and attached to aringbolt in the keystone at C.

The utility and originality of my invention consist in the manner ofbinding the archstones together, which, I believe, is the only way ofsecuring these three advantages: First, the arch may be easily andquickly put together for use; second, it is secure against accidentaldisplacement while being lifted into position and afterward; third, itcan be made to collapse upon a cue easily, quickly, and certainly.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The combination, in theatrical scenery, of an unstable arch of Wood orother light material, with a cord binding the arch together, allsubstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD L. SNADER.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. CAMPBELL, SAML. D. HoLT.

